CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
FIELD
[0002] The present technology is generally related to cryoablation catheters.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Renal denervation and similar balloon cryotherapies are performed by inflating a
balloon with a refrigerant to remove heat from surrounding tissues. The balloon is
supported by a catheter which provides the refrigerant to the balloon to perform the
therapy. Introduction of the refrigerant to the balloon causes the balloon to expand,
and the temperature within the balloon is monitored throughout the therapy process.
SUMMARY
[0004] The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to the use of a radiopaque isolation
guide within the balloon of a cryoablation catheter. The isolation guide isolates
an inflow pipe and at least one sensor (e.g., thermocouple wire, pressure monitor
tube, and/or other sensor), and reduces or eliminates the need for heat shrink material
and markerbands. The isolation guide may be made at least partially of a radiopaque
material (gold, platinum, iridium, or other sufficient radiopaque materials) to compensate
for the removal of the markerbands.
[0005] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a cryoablation catheter including
an inner lumen and an inflatable balloon surrounding the inner lumen. An inflow pipe
is disposed within the inflatable balloon and is configured to introduce a refrigerant
into the balloon. A thermocouple wire is disposed within the inflatable balloon and
is positioned adjacent the inflow pipe. The thermocouple wire is configured to measure
an internal temperature of the balloon. The cryoablation catheter further includes
an isolation guide disposed within the inflatable balloon. The isolation guide includes
a central bore configured to receive the inner lumen, an inflow bore configured to
receive the inflow pipe, and a thermocouple bore configured to receive the thermocouple
wire. The thermocouple bore is spaced from the inflow bore along the isolation guide.
[0006] In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a cryoablation
catheter. The method includes inserting an inner lumen into a central bore of an isolation
guide, inserting an inflow pipe into an inflow bore of the isolation guide, the inflow
pipe including a plurality of radially extending inflow ports, inserting a thermocouple
wire into a thermocouple bore of the isolation guide, the thermocouple wire having
a measuring tip configured to measure a temperature, positioning the isolation guide
such that the plurality of inflow ports and the measuring tip are positioned outside
of the isolation guide, and securing the isolation guide relative to the inner lumen,
the inflow pipe, and the thermocouple wire.
[0007] In another aspect, the disclosure provides an isolation guide for a cryoablation
catheter. The isolation guide includes a prismatic outer profile including a first
axial end face and a second axial end face. The second axial end face is disposed
opposite the first axial end face. A central bore extends between the first axial
end face and the second axial end face. The central bore is configured to receive
an inner lumen of the cryoablation catheter therein. An inflow bore extends between
the first axial end face and the second axial end face. The inflow bore is configured
to receive an inflow pipe of the cryoablation catheter therein. A sensor bore extends
between the first axial end face and the second axial end face. The sensor bore is
spaced from the inflow bore so as not to intersect the inflow bore, and the sensor
bore is configured to receive a sensor of the cryoablation catheter therein.
[0008] Further disclosed herein is a cryoablation catheter that includes an inner lumen
and an inflatable balloon surrounding the inner lumen, wherein an inflow pipe is disposed
within the inflatable balloon and is configured to introduce a refrigerant into the
balloon, wherein a thermocouple wire is disposed within the inflatable balloon and
positioned adjacent the inflow pipe, wherein the thermocouple wire is configured to
measure an internal temperature of the balloon, wherein cryoablation catheter further
includes an isolation guide disposed within the inflatable balloon, wherein the isolation
guide includes a central bore configured to receive the inner lumen, an inflow bore
configured to receive the inflow pope, and a thermocouple bore configured to receive
the thermocouple wire, and wherein the thermocouple bore is spaced from the inflow
bore along the isolation guide.
[0009] The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying
drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the
techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description and
drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a distal end of a cryoablation catheter according
to one example, with an isolation guide not shown.
FIG. 1A is a close-up perspective view of the cryoablation catheter of FIG. 1, with
a balloon not shown.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cryoablation catheter of FIG. 1, further including
the balloon and the isolation guide.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the isolation guide.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the isolation guide.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an isolation guide in accordance with another example.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cryoablation catheter, illustrating a different
position for the isolation guide than the position illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cryoablation catheter, illustrating an isolation
guide that extends across a working portion of the balloon and includes additional
radially-extending bores.
FIG. 8 is a schematic system diagram of the cryoablation catheter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] With reference to FIG. 1, a medical device, illustrated as a cryoablation catheter
10, includes a distal end 14 sized to be inserted into the vasculature of a patient
and a proximal end (not shown) to be engaged and controlled by an operator. The distal
end 14 includes an inner lumen 18 surrounded in part by a balloon 22 that is selectively
inflatable to perform cryoablation therapy. The catheter 10 delivers a refrigerant
to the balloon 22 to inflate and cool the balloon 22 during the cryoablation therapy.
An inflow pipe 26 for introducing the refrigerant is disposed within the catheter
10 and extends to a position within the balloon 22. The inflow pipe 26 includes a
plurality of inflow ports 30 (FIG. 1A) that deliver the refrigerant to a volume of
space within the balloon 22 during use. The inflow ports 30 are radial openings in
the inflow pipe 26 and direct the refrigerant radially outward toward the balloon
22. The refrigerant flows through the inflow pipe 26 of the catheter 10 as a liquid
and undergoes a liquid-gas phase change when passing through the inflow ports 30 and
entering the balloon 22. The phase change results in rapid expansion of the now gaseous
refrigerant, thereby decreasing the temperature within the balloon 22 and inflating
the balloon 22 (e.g., near a distal end 34 of the catheter 10). Due to the delicate
nature of a cryoablation therapy, a thermocouple wire 38 is disposed within the balloon
22 to allow for monitoring of the internal temperature of the balloon 22. In some
examples, the catheter 10 also includes one or more radiopaque markerbands (not illustrated)
that are positioned within or outside of the balloon 22. The radiopaque markerbands
allow the distal end 34 of the catheter 10 to be tracked using fluoroscopy while in
use for a cryoablation therapy, although as described herein in some examples the
number of markerbands are reduced or entirely eliminated from the catheter 10.
[0012] With reference to FIGS. 2-7, the catheter 10 includes an isolation guide 46 for aligning
and securing the inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple wire 38 relative to the inner
lumen 18. The isolation guide 46 aligns and secures the inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple
wire 38, (e.g., without the need for heat shrinking or other securing processes, or
with at least a reduced need for heat shrinking or other securing processes). The
isolation guide 46 is shaped to ensure proper alignment of the components (e.g., the
inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple wire 38) of the catheter 10. Furthermore, the
isolation guide 46 is formed of a radiopaque material to reduce or remove the need
for using separate markerbands. The isolation guide 46 may be formed from gold, platinum,
iridium, or other radiopaque materials. The isolation guide 46 is positioned within
a working portion 50 of the balloon 22 and is secured to the inner lumen 18. As shown
in FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the isolation guide 46 may be located near a proximal end 54
of the balloon 22, a distal end 58 of the balloon 22, or for example extend the length
of the working portion 50 of the balloon 22.
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the isolation guide 46 of the illustrated example has
a prismatic outer profile with a plurality of longitudinally extending bores therein.
A central bore 62 corresponds to the inner lumen 18, an inflow bore 66 corresponds
to the inflow pipe 26, and a thermocouple bore 70 corresponds to the thermocouple
wire 38. The thermocouple bore 70 is a sensor bore. Axial end faces 74 of the isolation
guide's prismatic outer profile are generally semi-circular. For example, the axial
end faces 74 may be a half circle (FIG. 5), the axial end faces 74 may be a three-quarter
circle (FIGS. 3-4), or the axial end faces 74 may be anywhere between a half and a
three-quarter circle, or less than a half circle, or greater than a three-quarter
circle but less than a full circle. The central bore 62 is generally circular in cross-section,
extends the length of the isolation guide 46, and is positioned so that a center of
the central bore 62 is aligned with a center of the axial end face 74 of the isolation
guide 46. In other examples the central bore 62, the inflow bore 66, and/or the thermocouple
bore 70 has a different shape than that illustrated (e.g., non-circular). In the illustrated
example, the cross-section of the central bore 62 is similar to that of the isolation
guide 46. For example, if the axial end faces 74 of the isolation guide 46 are half-circles,
the cross-section of the central bore 62 is also a half-circle (FIG. 5).
[0014] With continued reference to FIGS. 3-5, an inner diameter Dc of the central bore 62
is sized so that the inner lumen 18 fits within the central bore 62. In some examples,
the inner lumen 18 has an outer diameter that is equal to, or substantially equal
to (e.g., within 10% of), the inner diameter Dc. The inner lumen 18 may fit tightly
within the central bore 62 (e.g., in frictional engagement). In some examples, the
inner lumen 18 may have an outer diameter that is larger than, or smaller than, the
inner diameter Dc.
[0015] The inflow bore 66 and the thermocouple bore 70 are spaced angularly apart along
the circumference of the isolation guide 46 to prevent the inflow pipe 26 and the
thermocouple wire 38 from coming into contact with one another. An inner diameter
Din of the inflow bore 66 is sized to receive the inflow pipe 26 therein, and an inner
diameter Dtc of the thermocouple bore 70 is sized to receive the thermocouple wire
38 therein. The outer diameters of the inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple wire 38
may be equal to, or substantially equal to (e.g., within 10% of), the corresponding
inner diameters Din and Dtc. The inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple wire 38 may fit
tightly within the inflow bore 66 and the thermocouple bore 70 (e.g., in frictional
engagement). In some examples, the inflow pipe 26 and/or the thermocouple wire 38
may have an outer diameter that is larger than, or smaller than, the corresponding
diameter Din, Dtc. In the illustrated example, the diameter Dc is larger than the
diameter Din, and the diameter Din is larger than the diameter Dtc.
[0016] The inflow bore 66 and the thermocouple bore 70 may be positioned anywhere within
the isolation guide 46 so long as they do not intersect, so as to prevent the inflow
pipe 26 and the thermocouple wire 38 from touching. If the thermocouple wire 38 were
to touch the inflow pipe 26, the thermocouple wire 38 could produce incorrect or fluctuating
readings of the internal temperature of the balloon 22 during therapy. In the illustrated
example, the inflow bore 66 and the thermocouple bore 70 each extend parallel to the
central bore 62, although in other examples the inflow bore 66 and/or the thermocouple
bore 70 may not extend parallel to the central bore 62, and/or may not extend parallel
to one another.
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 3-4, an exemplary isolation guide 46 is sized as follows.
The central bore 62 has an inner diameter Dc of 0.022" to fit an inner lumen 18 with
an outer diameter between 0.017" and 0.021". The inner diameter Din of the inflow
bore 66 is 0.013" to fit an inflow pipe 26 with an outer diameter of between 0.010"
and 0.012". The inner diameter Dtc of the thermocouple bore 70 is 0.002" to fit a
thermocouple wire 38 having an outer diameter of 0.0013". Finally, an outer diameter
Dout of the isolation guide 46 is 0.052" so that the isolation guide 46 is large enough
to contain the bores 62, 66, 70. A length L of the isolation guide 46 may be less
than a length of the working portion 50 of the balloon 22 and may be, for example,
0.055", or between 0.05" and 0.06", or between 0.04" and 0.07", or between 0.03" and
0.08", or other values and ranges of values.
[0018] The illustrated isolation guide 46 includes a central bore 62, an inflow bore 66,
and a thermocouple bore 70. In some examples the isolation guide 46 includes a greater
number of bores to accommodate further components of a catheter. For example, the
isolation guide 46 may include other sensor bores such as a pressure monitor bore
to receive a pressure monitor tube therein and/or other sensor bores to receive other
sensors therein. In some examples, the thermocouple bore 70 is replaced by a sensor
bore for a different sensor (e.g., pressure monitor tube). The various sensor bores
of the isolation guide 46 may each be spaced from one another to maintain distances
between the sensors received therein, and between the sensors and the inflow pipe
26.
[0019] To assemble the cryoablation catheter 10 including the radiopaque isolation guide
46 described above, the inner lumen 18 is inserted into the central bore 62, the inflow
pipe 26 is inserted into the inflow bore 66, and the thermocouple wire 38 is inserted
into the thermocouple bore 70. The isolation guide 46 is then positioned along the
length of the inner lumen 18 such that a measuring tip 78 of the thermocouple wire
38 is disposed outside of the isolation guide 46. Similarly the isolation guide 46
is positioned such that the inflow ports 30 are not blocked by the isolation guide
46. After the isolation guide 46 is properly positioned, the isolation guide 46 may
be secured to the inner lumen 18, for example, with an adhesive. FIGS. 2, 6, and 7
illustrate various positions for the isolation guide 46 along the inner lumen 18.
For example, FIG. 2 illustrates the isolation guide 46 positioned near the distal
end 58 of the balloon 22. The inflow ports 30 are on a proximal side of the isolation
guide 46 and the measuring tip 78 of the thermocouple wire 38 is on an opposite, distal
side of the isolation guide 46. FIG. 6 illustrates the isolation guide 46 positioned
near the proximal end 54 of the balloon 22, and, therefore, the inflow ports 30 and
the measuring tip 78 are positioned distal of the isolation guide 46. FIG. 7 illustrates
the isolation guide 46 having a length L (FIG. 3) that spans (or substantially spans)
the working portion 50 of the balloon 22. In this example, the isolation guide 46
additionally includes a plurality of radially extending bores 82 that are aligned
with the inflow ports 30 during assembly, to prevent blocking of the inflow ports
30 and allow the liquid to pass from the inflow ports 30, through the bores 82, and
into the balloon 22.
[0020] The cryoablation catheter 10, including the radiopaque isolation guide 46 as described
above, may create reliable isolation between the inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple
wire 38 after assembly. Furthermore, the isolation guide 46 may provide for consistent
placement of the inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple wire 38 during assembly without
requiring the use of heat shrink to secure the inflow pipe 26 and the thermocouple
wire 38. Additionally, the radiopaque nature of the isolation guide 46 may reduce
or prevent the need for using markerbands on the catheter 10.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 8, the cryoablation catheter 10 may be used in various settings,
and in combination with one or more of a handle 86 and a control device 90. In some
examples, the cryoablation catheter 10 includes a proximal end (located opposite the
distal end 14 illustrated in Fig. 1) coupled to the handle 86. The handle 86 is coupled
to the control device 90 (e.g., with wiring and/or one or more conduits for delivery
of the refrigerant). The handle 86 may include one or more valves (e.g., check valves),
or other features that control movement of the refrigerant flowing through the inflow
pipe 26, and/or control movement of a portion or portions of the cryoablation catheter
10 itself. In some examples, no handle 86 is provided. Instead, the proximal end of
the cryoablation catheter 10 is coupled (e.g., directly) to the control device 90.
In some examples, the control device 90 is a large, stand-alone reusable console (e.g.,
with storage for the refrigerant, venting for the refrigerant, a display or monitor,
and/or other features). In other examples, the control device 90 is a smaller, reusable
console (e.g., without a full display or monitor, but with onboard electronics to
control flow of the refrigerant, and with storage for the refrigerant or a connector
for connection to a container of refrigerant). In yet other examples, the control
device 90 is a disposable, handheld device for use in controlling flow of the refrigerant,
and may contain for example a connector for connection to a container of refrigerant.
[0022] It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may be combined in
different combinations than the combinations specifically presented in the description
and accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that, depending on the example,
certain acts or events of any of the processes or methods described herein may be
performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g.,
all described acts or events may not be necessary to carry out the techniques). In
addition, while certain aspects of this disclosure are described as being performed
by a single module or unit for purposes of clarity, it should be understood that the
techniques of this disclosure may be performed by a combination of units or modules
associated with, for example, a medical device.
[0023] Although various aspects and examples have been described in detail with reference
to certain examples illustrated in the drawings, variations and modifications exist
within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects described and illustrated.
[0024] Further disclosed herein is the subject-matter of the following clauses:
- 1. A cryoablation catheter comprising:
an inner lumen;
an inflatable balloon surrounding the inner lumen;
an inflow pipe disposed within the inflatable balloon, the inflow pipe configured
to introduce a refrigerant to the balloon;
a thermocouple wire disposed within the inflatable balloon, the thermocouple wire
positioned adjacent the inflow pipe and configured to measure an internal temperature
of the balloon; and
an isolation guide disposed within the inflatable balloon, the isolation guide including
a central bore configured to receive the inner lumen, an inflow bore configured to
receive the inflow pipe, and a thermocouple bore configured to receive the thermocouple
wire, the thermocouple bore spaced from the inflow bore along the isolation guide.
- 2. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1, wherein the isolation guide includes a prismatic
outer profile including a first axial end face and a second axial end face, the second
axial end face disposed opposite the first axial end face, wherein the central bore
extends between the first axial end face and the second axial end face, wherein the
inflow bore extends between the first axial end face and the second axial end face,
and wherein the thermocouple bore extends between the first axial end face and the
second axial end face.
- 3. The cryoablation catheter of clause 2, wherein the first axial end face is semi-circular,
and wherein the second axial end face is semi-circular.
- 4. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the isolation guide is formed of a radiopaque material.
- 5. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the isolation guide is located near a proximal end of the inflatable balloon.
- 6. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the inner lumen has a first, outer diameter and the central bore has a second, inner
diameter, wherein the first, outer diameter is substantially equal to the second,
inner diameter.
- 7. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the inflow bore and the thermocouple bore are spaced angularly apart along a circumference
of the isolation guide.
- 8. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the inflow bore extends parallel to the central bore.
- 9. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the thermocouple bore extends parallel to the central bore.
- 10. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
both the inflow bore and the thermocouple bore extend parallel to the central bore.
- 11. The cryoablation catheter of clause 1 or of any of the preceding clauses, wherein
the isolation guide has a length of between 0.03" and 0.08".
- 12. A method of manufacturing a cryoablation catheter comprising:
inserting an inner lumen into a central bore of an isolation guide;
inserting an inflow pipe into an inflow bore of the isolation guide, the inflow pipe
including a plurality of radially extending inflow ports;
inserting a thermocouple wire into a thermocouple bore of the isolation guide, the
thermocouple wire having a measuring tip configured to measure a temperature;
positioning the isolation guide such that the plurality of inflow ports and the measuring
tip are positioned outside of the isolation guide; and
securing the isolation guide relative to the inner lumen, the inflow pipe, and the
thermocouple wire.
- 13. The method of clause 12, further comprising forming the isolation guide from a
radiopaque material.
- 14. The method of clause 12 or of any of clauses 12 and 13, further comprising securing
the inner lumen within the central bore of the isolation guide with adhesive.
- 15. An isolation guide for a cryoablation catheter, the isolation guide comprising:
a prismatic outer profile including a first axial end face and a second axial end
face, the second axial end face disposed opposite the first axial end face;
a central bore extending between the first axial end face and the second axial end
face, the central bore configured to receive an inner lumen of the cryoablation catheter
therein;
an inflow bore extending between the first axial end face and the second axial end
face, the inflow bore configured to receive an inflow pipe of the cryoablation catheter
therein; and
a sensor bore extending between the first axial end face and the second axial end
face, the sensor bore spaced from the inflow bore so as not to intersect the inflow
bore, the sensor bore configured to receive a sensor of the cryoablation catheter
therein.
- 16. The isolation guide of clause 15, wherein the isolation guide is formed of a radiopaque
material.
- 17. The isolation guide of clause 15 or of any of clauses 15-16, wherein the inflow
bore and the sensor bore are spaced angularly apart along a circumference of the isolation
guide.
- 18. The cryoablation catheter of clause 15 or of any of clauses 15-17, wherein the
inflow bore extends parallel to the central bore.
- 19. The cryoablation catheter of clause 15 or of any of clauses 15-18, wherein the
sensor bore extends parallel to the central bore.
- 20. The cryoablation catheter of clause 15 or of any of clauses 15-19, wherein both
the inflow bore and the sensor bore extend parallel to the central bore.
1. A cryoablation catheter comprising:
an inner lumen;
an inflatable balloon surrounding the inner lumen;
an inflow pipe disposed within the inflatable balloon, the inflow pipe configured
to introduce a refrigerant to the balloon;
a thermocouple wire disposed within the inflatable balloon, the thermocouple wire
positioned adjacent the inflow pipe and configured to measure an internal temperature
of the balloon; and
an isolation guide disposed within the inflatable balloon, the isolation guide including
a central bore configured to receive the inner lumen, an inflow bore configured to
receive the inflow pipe, and a thermocouple bore configured to receive the thermocouple
wire, the thermocouple bore spaced from the inflow bore along the isolation guide.
2. The cryoablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the isolation guide includes a prismatic
outer profile including a first axial end face and a second axial end face, the second
axial end face disposed opposite the first axial end face, wherein the central bore
extends between the first axial end face and the second axial end face, wherein the
inflow bore extends between the first axial end face and the second axial end face,
and wherein the thermocouple bore extends between the first axial end face and the
second axial end face.
3. The cryoablation catheter of claim 2, wherein the first axial end face is semi-circular,
and wherein the second axial end face is semi-circular.
4. The cryoablation catheter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the isolation guide
is formed of a radiopaque material.
5. The cryoablation catheter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the isolation guide
is located near a proximal end of the inflatable balloon.
6. The cryoablation catheter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner lumen
has a first, outer diameter and the central bore has a second, inner diameter, wherein
the first, outer diameter is substantially equal to the second, inner diameter.
7. The cryoablation catheter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the inflow bore
and the thermocouple bore are spaced angularly apart along a circumference of the
isolation guide.
8. The cryoablation catheter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the inflow bore
extends parallel to the central bore, and/or wherein the thermocouple bore extends
parallel to the central bore, and/or wherein both the inflow bore and the thermocouple
bore extend parallel to the central bore.
9. The cryoablation catheter of any of the preceding claims, wherein the isolation guide
has a length of between 0.03" and 0.08".
10. A method of manufacturing a cryoablation catheter comprising:
inserting an inner lumen into a central bore of an isolation guide;
inserting an inflow pipe into an inflow bore of the isolation guide, the inflow pipe
including a plurality of radially extending inflow ports;
inserting a thermocouple wire into a thermocouple bore of the isolation guide, the
thermocouple wire having a measuring tip configured to measure a temperature;
positioning the isolation guide such that the plurality of inflow ports and the measuring
tip are positioned outside of the isolation guide; and
securing the isolation guide relative to the inner lumen, the inflow pipe, and the
thermocouple wire.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the isolation guide from a radiopaque
material, and optionally further comprising securing the inner lumen within the central
bore of the isolation guide with adhesive.
12. An isolation guide for a cryoablation catheter, the isolation guide comprising:
a prismatic outer profile including a first axial end face and a second axial end
face, the second axial end face disposed opposite the first axial end face;
a central bore extending between the first axial end face and the second axial end
face, the central bore configured to receive an inner lumen of the cryoablation catheter
therein;
an inflow bore extending between the first axial end face and the second axial end
face, the inflow bore configured to receive an inflow pipe of the cryoablation catheter
therein; and
a sensor bore extending between the first axial end face and the second axial end
face, the sensor bore spaced from the inflow bore so as not to intersect the inflow
bore, the sensor bore configured to receive a sensor of the cryoablation catheter
therein.
13. The isolation guide of claim 12, wherein the isolation guide is formed of a radiopaque
material.
14. The isolation guide of any of claims 12-13, wherein the inflow bore and the sensor
bore are spaced angularly apart along a circumference of the isolation guide.
15. The cryoablation catheter of any of claims 12-14, wherein the inflow bore extends
parallel to the central bore, and/or wherein the sensor bore extends parallel to the
central bore, and/or wherein both the inflow bore and the sensor bore extend parallel
to the central bore.